Combined cane and tripod.



Patented Sept. la, I900.

W. H. MAOGILL.

COMBINED CANE AND TRIPOD.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC WILLIAM HITER MACGILL, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY,

COMBINED CAN E AND TRIPOD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,947, dated September 18, 1900.

Application filed January 13, 1900; Serial No. 1,347. (No model.)

described which can be conveniently carried from place to place with as little inconvenience as possible. 7

With this object in View my invention consists in providing a head to which are secured three telescoping legs, held in and adjusted to their predetermined position by a slidable triangular frame consisting of the pivotedtelescoping rods provided with hooks to engage the respective legs, substantially as described.

My invention further consists in certain parts and combinations of parts, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention, the parts being collapsed to form a cane. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the same in its extended position for holding a camera. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a different manner of attaching the camera. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the tripod head and leg connection. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the lower position of the tripod, the ferrule being detached; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the adjusting mechanism.

Referringnow to the drawings by reference-numerals, 10 indicates the tripod-head, comprising the peripherallythreaded top plate 11, provided with downwardly-projecting lugs 12, to which the upper ends of the legs 13, 14, and are secured, as at 16. It will be noticed that each of these legs is turned inwardly along its longitudinal edge to form overlapping portions, between which the slidable sections l7, l8, and 19 of the legs are held, each of said legs being capable of adjustment by a set-screw 20, carried in a perforated lug 21 at the top of said section, which bears against the leg proper,

- adjustment.

and thereby secures the slidable section in any desired position within the range of its It Will be noticed that each of these legs is in the form of a third of a circle in cross-section, so that when they are brought together a tubular body is formed, and the same is held in such position by a threaded ferrule 23, the projecting tubular portion 24 of which extends into said tube, while the internally-threaded portion 25 screws on the male threads 26 on the ends of the several legs. A handle 27 may then be screwed upon the top plate 11, when the device will have the appearance of a cane.

Slidably secured to each leg and held in operative relation therewith by the longitudinal overlapping portions are plates 28, to the top of each of which is an in wardly-projecting flange 29, provided with openings 30 and 31. Secured in the openings 31 is a brace-rod 32, connected thereto by an eye 33.

' A rod 34 telescopes in the rod 32, so that the spread of the legs may be adjusted, said rod 34 being provided on its free end with a hook 35, adapted to engage one of the openings 30 to hold the tripod rigid. It is of course understood that there are three of these plates 28 (one for each leg) and three brace-rods, the

' whole forming a triangular frame adapted to be held in any adjustment by set-screws 36.

Should it be desirable-as, for instance, when the camera is small, as shown in Fig. 2to use the triangular frame for supporting the camera, the telescoping arms thereof can be extended until the support is large enough, and thus the necessity of removing the handle each time will be obviated. However, in focusing large cameras it will be better to rest the same directly upon the head, in which instance I provide a thumb-screw 37, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

While I have described in detail what to me at this time appears to be the very best means for accomplishing the result it is desired to attain, I would have it understood that I reserve the right to make such changes and alterations as would properly come within the scope of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a collapsible tripod, the combination with a head, of legs pivoted thereto, a plate slidably secured to each leg provided with an inwardly-projecting flange, a telescoping hooked rod secured to each flange and adapted to engage the flange on one of the other plates, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a head, of legs pivoted thereto in the form of a third of a circle in cross-section, the longitudinal edges of said legs being turned inwardly to form overlapping portions, slidable leg-sections secured in said overlapping portions, flanged plates and adjustable side bars to form a triangular WILLIAM HITER MACGILL.

Witnesses:

S. A. MU LIKIN, THOS. B. TALBOT. 

